Met. Meletiy supports persecuted St. Basil parish of UOC in Chernivtsi
Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna. Photo: a video screenshot from Dozor
On May 18, 2025, Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna visited the believers of St. Basil's Church of the UOC in Chernivtsi. As reported by the Telegram channel «Dozor», the hierarch came to support Orthodox Christians whose church is under threat of being seized by the OCU.
The day before, on May 17, parishioners received information that raiders were planning to come in the morning and take away their shrine.
The faithful of the UOC gathered in the church for prayer and stood up for defense.
Addressing the community, the metropolitan urged them not to become embittered and to maintain inner peace, because «this is our weapon, the most important and strongest».
According to him, people driven by anger begin to act irrationally. They take away the believers' shrines, which then stand empty, while Orthodox Christians continue to gather for prayer in their homes.
"Poor people, subjected to sheer propaganda. They seem to be Ukrainians, while we are 'Moscali' or something – nonsense. And therefore this is a struggle for faith. And for faith, it means, for people. They take away our churches. Well, what can we do? With love, with patience, we need to endure this time and believe that the Lord will not abandon us," said Metropolitan Meletiy.
The UOC hierarch noted that in dark times, bright people are more visible; they shine like stars at night in the sky.
«Today we find ourselves in such darkness – spiritual. Let us be stars. Let us cherish what we received from our grandfathers, great-grandfathers. They used to be Orthodox, and we must remain Orthodox. Because only by this path can we attain grace,» wished the Chernivtsi archpastor.
Earlier, the UOJ reflected on what a priest teaches when he breaks into a church in Bukovyna.
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